Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-09-01

perfect, was deceitful, bold, and coarse.
As he entered the room he came face
to face with Mrs. Latimer, an old
friend of his.
80, Roy you are just the one want!
You must 90 with us in our yachting
trip. | do not intend to take arefusal.
L am SO disappointed that Mr.. Stanley
cannot join us as he expected"
Here was an opening for him to es-
cape meeting Kate.
Instantly he accepted the invitation,
then said somewhat abruptly:
''Mr. Stanley was at one time, be-
lieve, great admirer of Miss Neville?"
Mrs. Latimer appeared greatly en-
barrassed.
THAT was an unfortunate affair,
which | hoped was forgotten, she
answered, and then passed on to another
topic.
Neither Kate nor Cora saw Roy
again that evening.
He went home, and spent the most
miserable night of his life
As the minutes passed, and Roy did
not appear to claim the remainino
dances she had promised him, Kate
heart grew heavier and heavier.
With supreme effort she concealed
her unhappiness; with witty repartee
and merry laughter she hid an aching
heart.
But in the privacy of her own room
she gave way to her grief.
ooh, why did let him look into my
eyes and read my secret?" she cried in
an agony of shame
And the poor girl burst into passion
Of tears.
A few days later she heard that Roy
had gone away for some time
As the weeks glided away, if Kate's
lovely face grew thinner and paler, nc
one suspected the cause.
The season was drawing to a close
and she rejoiced at the prospect OF
leaving city where she had suffered
so much.
With heavy heart she dressed
for the last reception she expected tc
attend.
The rooms were crowded when she
entered, and in the moving mass o.
humanity she failed to see Roy Palmer
whose eyes never left her face.
Poor Roy! He had trained his hear
for weeks, and it rose in rebellion tn,
moment he saw the girl.
He started like \ one shot as he
noticed a young man push his way tC
Hates side.
1t was Stanley.
He bowed over Hates hand will
great e11apresSenaeaat, aud she welcomed
him warmly.
With compressed lips Roy turned
away, sick at heart.
Later in the evening he met STANLEY
in the dressing-room. In some way
Hates name was introduced, anC
Stanley spoke of her in terms of grea
admiration.
"She is an old acquaintance, is shC
not? Roy asked.
mo; quite the contrary. [ have
only known her a few weeks"
'Do you mean to tell me you wer,
not acquainted with Miss Neville two
winters ago?" demanded Roy.
A crimson flush spread from Stanley
collar to the roots of his hair.
Il expect you refer to a distant re
lative of this Miss Neville, who wa
here two winters ago, and who Isl yer,
different kind of q girl"
And with hasty ''GoOd-ni9hti
Stanley disappeared, without noticing
how his information had affected Roy.
The floor and ceiling seemed to NEE
before the eyes Of the young man, ant
the things in the room chased eacl
other in the widest way.
Giving himself Il shake to restore hi.
scattered senses, he turned and wen
swiftly downstairs.
In few minutes he was besid
Kate.
Miss Neville, this is our waltz"
With a little gasp, Kate turned at The
sound of the voice that four long week
before had addressed her in almost tn
same words.
The suddenness of the attack wa:
too much for her; unresistinG. Iii,
allowed him to lead her to a small re
ception-room.
He closed the door, and then all tn,
mans control left him.
ooh, Kate, can you ever forgive me
Can / ever make you love me? Believ,
me, have been madr'
And he certainly gave her good caus,
to think he was still in that unhapp,
condition.
Keeping her hands locked in his, he
poured forth his story-incoherently
perhaps, but it left no doubt in Katei
mind of his love for her.
Carefully she kept her face averted.
''Ah, my darling, is there nothing
can do to win your forgiveness"
NO" she answered in a low tone
"You forget am woman"
''Kate, do not break my hearth! he in
terrupted, catching his breath desper
ately.
land to a woman who loves there i
nothing to forgive" she finished in
whisper, hiding her face on his breast
Straining her to his heart, he laid hi
lips to hers, softly and tenderly, anC
in that moment was youchsafed t,
| them a f0retaSte of heaven